The Soul of Maryland Is Not for Sale: A Call to Defend Fishtown’s Ancestral Land
Something troubling is happening on the coastline of Harper District, Maryland County: something that cuts to the heart of who we are as a people. Reports reaching the public reveal that Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, President of William V. S. Tubman University, and his administration have allegedly taken steps to acquire about 90 acres of land in Fishtown illegally.
By George H. Nubo
A Cry from the Shores of Fishtown
Something troubling is happening on the coastline of Harper District, Maryland County: something that cuts to the heart of who we are as a people.
Reports reaching the public reveal that Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, President of William V. S. Tubman University, and his administration have allegedly taken steps to acquire about 90 acres of land in Fishtown illegally.
This land is not empty soil. It is part of our story, a place where generations of Marylanders planted coconut trees, fished in calm waters, and laid their loved ones to rest. And yet, it is being taken, piece by piece, in what many are now calling a criminal land grab.
Even worse, Superintendent Henry B. Cole, the highest local authority in our county, is said to have signed off on a document related to this deal reportedly “under pressure.” The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) has denied any involvement and insists that no survey order was ever issued, especially since the Community Land Development Committee (CLDC), which is legally mandated to represent the people in all land matters, has not yet been formed in Fishtown.
If this is true, then the entire deal is at best illegal and immoral.
When Leaders Betray Their People
Public office is not a personal privilege; it is a sacred trust. A county superintendent is supposed to defend the people, not sign away their land. If Superintendent Cole truly signed under duress, then he must disclose who pressured him and why. If he signed willingly, then he must take responsibility for betraying the public confidence placed in him.
No official, no matter how high, is above the law or above the people. Leadership under pressure is no leadership at all: it is a surrender and a betrayal. And surrendering our people’s land under “pressure” is not just cowardice; it’s complicity.
Tubman University’s Hands Are Not Clean
Tubman University was built to bring light, learning, and dignity to the southeast. But what light is this when the institution’s leadership allegedly participates in darkness?
Education should elevate people and not dispossess them. If these allegations are factual, then the university that carries the name of President William V. S. Tubman is being used to exploit the very county he once led.
As president of the university, Dr. Olu Q. Menjay owes the people an explanation. Did the university’s Board of Trustees approve this transaction? Was the Liberia Land Authority consulted? Was any environmental or community impact study conducted?
Silence will not do. You cannot preach ethics from the lectern in Harper while violating the law in Fishtown.
Ancestral Land Is Sacred
For those who may not know, the land in question is not just bush or beachfront — it is sacred ground. Our ancestors planted coconut trees there long before modern institutions arrived. Those trees are more than crops; they are living memorials of family history, survival, and faith.
Now, we are hearing that these coconut trees are being cut down in the name of “development.” But development that destroys people’s heritage is not progress: it is erasure. Every fallen tree is a broken link between our past and our future.
When we allow those with power to bulldoze ancestral land, we send a message that tradition no longer matters, that money outweighs memory, and that the legacy of our grandparents can be uprooted for a few signatures and a fence line.
What the Law Says
Liberia’s Land Rights Act of 2018 is clear. Customary land, the type of land our ancestors collectively held, cannot be taken, sold, or leased without the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of the local community through its Community Land Development Committee (CLDC).
That committee doesn’t exist in Fishtown. So, how can Tubman University, or any institution, claim 90 acres of land? Without that legal step, this deal is a violation of the Land Rights Act and a crime against the people.
When the Liberia Land Authority publicly distances itself from a land transaction, it indicates that something is deeply amiss. It means someone has bypassed the law. And when law is ignored, communities lose not only their land but their faith in justice itself.
A Community Betrayed
The people of Fishtown have always been known for their peaceful, respectful, and welcoming nature. But their silence should never be mistaken for weakness. The land in question does not belong to a single person, but to families whose roots extend back generations.
I, George Nubo, am not from Fishtown Beach, but my mother and grandmother hail from there. I know the value of that soil. I know the meaning of those coconut trees. And I will not be silent when I see their heritage being stolen under the pretense of progress.
The people of Maryland County must now speak with one voice. Because if this injustice goes unchallenged, it will not stop with Fishtown. Tomorrow, it will be Pleebo, then Harper, Kaulauway, then Barrobo, until no community is safe.
A Challenge to the Maryland Legislative Caucus
This is the moment for the Maryland County Legislative Caucus to rise above politics and prove that it represents the people, not the powerful. Every lawmaker from Maryland must demand an independent investigation into this alleged land deal.
The Caucus should summon the Superintendent, the Tubman University President, and representatives from the Liberia Land Authority to answer complex questions. The people need the truth and not rumors, not denials, but documented facts.
And if wrongdoing is found, the perpetrators must face the consequences of the law. The people must not pay for the arrogance of a few.
A Plea to Civil Society and the Media
This case is a wake-up call for civil society organizations, journalists, and community radio stations in Maryland County. The days of staying quiet while public officials manipulate land laws must end.
Land is the backbone of our community. It feeds us, unites us, and gives us a sense of belonging. When land is stolen, a people lose not only their property but also their purpose. Civil society must speak, write, and act. Journalists must dig deeper, follow the paper trail, and hold those in power accountable.
A Test for President Boakai’s “Integrity Government”
President Joseph N. Boakai has promised a government of integrity and accountability. Here lies a perfect test of that promise. Will the President’s appointees — the Superintendent and the Tubman University President — be held accountable if found guilty? Or will politics protect them?
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Liberia Land Authority must conduct an investigation. The government must order a temporary suspension of any ongoing land activity in Fishtown until a transparent review is complete.
Integrity is not spoken; it is proven through action. And this is a moment that will show whether the government’s words carry meaning or not.
A Warning to Superintendent Cole and Dr. Menjay
Superintendent Henry B. Cole, you are the face of the county government. The people trusted you to defend their rights, not to sign under pressure or remain silent in collusion. If you were coerced, please speak out publicly. If not, be prepared to answer for your signature before the people and the law.
Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, as an academic and a religious leader, you carry the burden of moral example. You cannot preach ethics and practice deceit. If Tubman University’s leadership has acquired land through theft, it must return it and make amends. No university should grow by uprooting the very community that supports it.
The Danger of Silence
We often hear people say, “Leave it alone. It’s government business.” But when we stay silent, corruption grows stronger. When we close our eyes to injustice, we make room for more.
The people of Maryland County must remember that our forefathers fought to reclaim dignity — not for us to sell it away. Those who planted the coconut trees in Fishtown left behind a legacy of self-reliance, pride, and ownership. To watch those trees fall without protest would be to betray their memory.
Silence is not peace. Silence is surrender.
What Must Be Done
1. Stop all land clearing immediately until a full investigation is completed.
2. Form the Fishtown Community Land Development Committee (CLDC) so that local voices are legally represented.
3. Investigate and prosecute anyone found to have violated the Land Rights Act.
4. Compensate families for any coconut trees or crops already destroyed.
5. Replant the coastal trees as a sign of restoration and renewal.
The Spirit of Maryland Lives On
Maryland County has a proud history of learning, leadership, and resilience. From Tubman to Tolbert, from Harper to Pleebo, our people have stood tall through trials. But this land scandal challenges us in a new way. It asks: Will we defend our heritage, or will we watch it be sold off by those who swore to protect it?
Our answer must be clear and firm: The soul of Maryland is not for sale. Hands off Fishtown. Respect the law. Restore the land.
Final Words
To Dr. Menjay and Superintendent Cole, the people are watching. History is recording. What you do next will define your legacy.
To my fellow Marylanders, this is our home, our history, and our duty. Let us rise together, not with violence, but with moral courage and a collective voice.
Because when we defend the land of our ancestors, we assert our identity, our future, and our children’s hope.
Maryland must not sleep. Fishtown must not fall. The time to act is now.
